Professor Sue Buckley OBE

Director of Science and Research, Down Syndrome Education International
Director of Science and Research, Down Syndrome Education USA
Emeritus Professor of Developmental Disability, University of Portsmouth, UK

"Sue Buckley is one of the foremost global experts on education for children with Down syndrome. Her pioneering work
over more than 25 years has enabled thousands of children in the US, the UK and elsewhere to learn with their
peers and receive the education they deserve." (
National Down Syndrome Society, USA)

Sue Buckley is a leading expert in education and development for young people with Down syndrome. Sue began research
examining early reading instruction for children with Down syndrome in 1980 and founded Down Syndrome Education International
in 1986. Her research and contributions to the lives of young people with Down syndrome has been widely recognised
through numerous awards.

Sue Buckley is a Chartered Psychologist with over 30 years of experience in the field of developmental disability. Sue
read Psychology at the University of Reading, UK, and trained in Clinical Psychology. She worked in the National
Health Service for several years and moved to teaching in the Psychology Department at the University of Portsmouth
in 1975.

Sue continued clinical work in the community establishing early intervention services in the 1970s and began research
into the learning needs of children with Down syndrome in 1980. She continued to teach and research in the University
as well as establish the work of Down Syndrome Education International from 1980. She also worked on national and
local government bodies tasked with improving services for individuals with disabilities.

Sue was awarded a personal chair and appointed Professor by the University in 1994 in recognition of her work in research
and teaching in developmental disability. In 2000, she left the University to work full-time for DSEI while retaining
her research links with the University, which awarded her Emeritus Professor status.

Sue has travelled widely to speak at conferences and training events and she is in high demand as a speaker. She has
also published widely for families, practitioners and researchers and played a leading role in stimulating growth
in research into the education and development of children with Down syndrome worldwide.

Sue's unique contribution to the scientific understanding of Down syndrome and to improving early intervention and
education for children with Down syndrome has been widely recognised by families, Down syndrome organisations and
colleagues. She has received many awards, including:

the inaugural scientific award at the first international Biennial Scientific Conference on Down Syndrome in 1998

an OBE for her services to special needs education in the Queen's 2004 Birthday Honours List

the Theodore D Tjossen Research Award by the National Down Syndrome Congress in the USA in 2005

National Down Syndrome Congress' Education Award "for improving the lives of children with Down syndrome by developing
innovative research-based education techniques" in 2016

Sue is knowledgeable about most aspects of the development of children and adolescents with Down syndrome, but her special
area of expertise is cognitive development, particularly language, literacy and memory development. Sue also has
firsthand experience of many of the issues that affect families as the eldest of her three children, Roberta, has
Down syndrome and was adopted into Sue's family when a baby.

Selected publications

Bennett, S., Holmes, J., Buckley, S. (2013). Computerized memory training leads to sustained improvement in visuo-spatial
short term memory skills in children with Down syndrome.
American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (in press).

Buckley S.J., Bird G., Sacks B., Archer T. (2006). A comparison of mainstream and special education for teenagers
with Down syndrome: Implications for parents and teachers.
Down Syndrome Research and Practice. 9(3), 54-67.
https://dx.doi.org/10.3104/reports.295

Fletcher, H., & Buckley, S. (2002). Phonological awareness in children with Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome Research and Practice, 8(1), 11-18.

Nye, J., Fluck, M., & Buckley, S. (2001). Counting and cardinal understanding in children with Down syndrome and
typically developing children.
Down Syndrome Research and Practice, 7(2), 68-78.

Stores, R., Stores, G. & Buckley, S. J. (1996). The pattern of sleep disorders in children with Down's syndrome and
other intellectual disabilities.
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 9(2), 145-159.

Buckley, S.J (1995). Increasing the conversational utterance length of teenagers with Down's syndrome.
Down Syndrome Research and Practice, 3(3), 110-116.

Laws, G. MacDonald, J. & Buckley, S.J. (1996) The effects of a short training in the use of rehersal strategy on
memory for words and pictures in children with Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome Reseach and Practice, 4(2), 70-80.

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